Knife blade grinding machine



May 11, 1943.

H. T. NICHOLAS KNIFE BLADE GRINDING MACHINE 2 Sheets-She et 1 Filed Aug 3, 1940 INVENTOR.. HEEBERT. TIV/CHOL AS A TTORNEYS.

May 11, 1943. H. r. NICHOLAS KNIFE BLADE GRINDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 3, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

IL/EEBERT T/Y/c oLAs A TTORNEYS.

Patented May 11, 1943 eraser BLADE- GRINDING MACHIlfIE- Herbert, T. Nicholas, Sandusky, Ohio, assignor. to

Klotz' Machine Company, 'Sandusky, Ohio The invention to be hereinafter described relatesto blade grinding machin es'and mo re particularly to knife blade "grindingmachines.

There have been several types of'machiries for grinding knife blades. In such machines, one known arrangement feeds a blade across the operative path of 'th e grinding wheel'and simultamoving all stock necessary'to produce the fine cutting edge, all the way around the end.'

The'm'ain objects of the present invention are tov greatly reduce or eliminate the above andoth'er drawbacks and deficiencies an'd produce a; s'i'm ple, efficient, compact and easily operated "low cost machine capable of grinding one side'oi a knife blade completely in "a single passage by'or over. the grinding wheel surfacfproducinfg a thin tapered cutting edge along the entire length, iiig cluding the curved end clear up'to the ba'ckl In order. to more clearly disclose the construction, operation and use of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of the present application. Throughout the several figures of the drawings like reference characters designate the same parts in the different views.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the invention, omitting most of the main frame and the driving shaft;

Fig. 2 is a left hand end view of Fig. 1, partly broken'away;

'3 is a longitudinal section of Fig. 2, partly broken away, showing the movable bars and actuating parts in plan; and,

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are, respectively, top plan view, side elevation and bottom plan view of 'a' knife blade ground according to this invention.

The grinding wheel, its driving and feeding mechanisms and the machine frame for support ing the same form no part of the present invention. Accordingly, only enough of them has been shQWn to disclose the relation of the invention to them. Likewise, the hydraulic and electric mechanism and devices for -reciprocating and starting and stopping the carriage for the blade block, broadly speaking, form no p'art'of the presem application. They are; thereforefnot illustrated. By such limitation, the illustration of the invention itself becomes much"simple'r"and clearer and its construction'and operation cor respondingly more definite. As far as the present invention is concerned, any suitable hydraulic operating mechanism may be used'and any suitable electric starting and stopping'and switching mechanism. There are several of' each such known on the market, to choose from.

Referring to th'drawings in" detail, I indicates the frame" of the machine, "of usual and well known construction. In this is 'mountedand operated, in well known manner, 'a well kn'own'type of cylindrical'grinding wheel 2. c

Pivota'lly mounted on frame! is the main bracln et or support 3. The pivots i'are' so'dispo'sd as to fall in a vertical plane tangent to the outersurface or' circumference of the grinding wheel or cylinder 2. omy the upperpivot'has been shown in the drawings. 'A second pivot, ofcourse, is used at the lower end of bracket 3. It isj'in' all respects, a duplicate of the upper pivot. so; illustration and description of one gives full information as to both. Obviously, a third or fourth such pivot could be used but," it is doubtful if there would be any advantage in using moretha'n two and two, of course, are necessary to properly align the bracket for purposes of the inv n; tion. By having'two pivots; vertically'disposle'd, one above the other, and in a plane 'tan'g'entto the grindingwhel, the movements of the bracket 3 and the parts carried thereby, may be so related to the grinding wheel as to produce'the results accomplished by thisinv'enti'on.

Preferably, the upper part of bracket 3 is either formed as or provided with' a large U-sl'i'aped channel or head 5 extending the full depth'of the upper part of the bracket. Spanning the upper side of this U which, as shown in" Fig.1, faces the operative edge or facebf the grinding wheel or cylinder 2, is a strong plate 6, block or support which constitutes a way for a reciprof cable carriage II A simple, efiicientahd economical mounting of carriage! on way his by a mortise-and-tenon or dove-taiIS or the like, along the upper side. This forms a hook from which the weight of the carriage 1 hangs. Since the center of gravity of 'l'is," obviously, were right of the faceo'f '6, carriage 7 wills wing toward 6. So, tdeliminate, as" far' aspracucatie, friction between the lower part 6 and'the corresponding part of 1, roller or other anti'-friction bearings 8' may be interposed. This provides simple free-sliding movement between 6 and I.

Extending longitudinally of the carriage I is a plate 9 of shallow U-shaped cross-sectional outline or contour. It is disposed between parallel spaced wings or flanges the lower one of which sustains or supports it. Near one end, it is pivotally connected to the carriage by pivot pins I0. Approximately the full length of plate 9 swings horizontally about pivots I as a center.

On the swinging plate 9 is supported the rocking bar II which tips or rocks about the longitudinal axis of horizontal pivot pins I2 which extend through end flanges or ears of bar II and seat in the end faces of plate 9. Thus I I swings with 9 about the pivots II) and rocks relatively to 9 about the axis of I2. It has three separate and distinct motions, all or any two of which may be performed simultaneously or several of which may occur separately-4. e., it reciprocates with the carriage, swings with bar or plate 9, and rocks relatively to plate 9.

The horizontally swinging motion is imparted by a small contact roller or wheel I3 travelling in contact with a cam bar I 4. The contour or curvature of bar I4 is greatly exaggerated, in the drawings, for clearness. Roller I3 is carried on an arm I5 secured to 9 near its free end. As the carriage is moved longitudinally, in well known manner, the roller I3 following the cam surface of I4, causes 9 to swing in accordance with the pattern of the cam surface. The arm I5 may be adjusted, as to length, by being made in several sections with screw thread connections, a stop nut being used to limit the adjustment, in well known manner.

It will be understood of course, that, preliminary to the start of the grinding operation, the blade to be ground in accordance with the pattern of cam surface of I4, is suitably secured to the knife or blade block I6 carried by the bar I l The machine is then set or adjusted in well known manner, so that the carriage is at the beginning of the stroke with the blade in engagement with the grinding wheel at the moment of the start of the stroke. Of course, that part of the blade corresponding to the start of the cam surface of I4 is the part positioned for such starting engagement. As the carriage moves across the face of the grinding wheel the cam surface of I 4, through roller I3, arm I5 and bar 9, keeps the blade edge held firmly in grinding contact from beginning to end of that operationi. e., throughout the longitudinal or lengthwise edge, or from the beginning of the cam surface of cam bar I4, which corresponds to the beginning of the cutting edge of the blade, to the bolster or handle end. In the illustration selected, the cam surface has the curvature of a simple table knife or similar blade with a shoulder at or near the handle end. That pattern or cam surface, as will be clearly understood, can not be used to produce blade edges of different shapes, types or designs than that corresponding to it. The cam surfaces are, actually, blade patterns. For every type, shape or different grind of blade a correspondingly different pattern or cam surface of bar I4 will be used. They are all readily attachable and detachable, in well known manner and any one may replace any other, as may be desired. And, of course, the individual'manfacturer or cutlery maker may readily make and attach his own cam bars to produce the particular grind that he may desire. From the above it will be understood that an unlimited number of bars I4 each having a different cam surface or pattern may be selec tively used, producing correspondingly different ground edges. And the same is true of the bars I'I, its cam surfaces or patterns, and the edges ground by it.

A long standing difficulty in grinding blades has been that of carrying the grinding clear around the free end or point and up to the widened back edge. The present invention uses a highly eflicient and very simple means of doing this. This means comprises a device for rocking or tilting bar II at a predetermined time in accordance with a predetermined pattern. For this purpose, a cam bar I! is used, having the pattern corresponding to the grind to be given the free end or point of the particular blade. An arm I9 is fixed to the upper part of rocking bar II at a point near the free end of swinging plate 9 and gagement of the blade end, tip or point with the grinding wheel. The knife blade or other blade to be ground is secured, in well known manner, to the block or holder I6 carried byrocking bar II and is mounted thereon in such manner that its longitudinal axis is in the same horizontal plan as axis of I2 of the rocking bar' II. Consequently, in securing a blade in place,

its longitudinal axis may be readily disposed in the same horizontal plane as those two axes.-

And that is the manner in which blades are mounted for grinding. With a blade so mounted,

start of the reciprocation of the carriage starts to rock the blade about its longitudinal axis in accordance with the pattern of cam bar I'I. This maintains grinding contact constantly between the curved edge of the point and the grinding wheel so that the stock will be reduced or ground.

off around the outer end from the bottom or cutting edge to the back. The grinding operation or job will be completely finished and no touching up required. Here, again, the outline or con-'- tour of the end, tip or point varies and each variation requires a different pattern or cam surface on bar I1. So, cam bars H are removably and readily attachable and detachable.

cam bars and attach them to the machines after they are received from the manufacturer of the machines. Or one or more bars having specified cam surfaces may be supplied separately with a machine and then attached as and when desired by the purchaser.

It will be obvious that cam grooves may be used instead of the cam surfaces, that the cam ibars" may be removably mounted in many well known ways, that the arms I5 and I9 may be connected to bars 9 and II in various other ways,

that various other pivotal mountings of bars 9 I and II may be used, and that many other variations may be resorted to within the field'of the present invention.

From the above, it will be seen that the tan gential relation between pivots 4 and grinding wheel 2 make it possible to maintain grinding contact while swinging the carriage and blade relatively to the grinding edge, thereby imparting various ground surfaces, such as flat ground, hollow-or concave ground and round or convex ground, se-

As with cam bars I4, the individual user may make his own corresponding characteristicallylectively, by-merely swinging on piyot 4. It will lso e l art as e ar ia emo s ao oss the grinding surface inoperative engagement with the blade, the cutting edge is automatioally maintained, in such grinding relation that, in a single lengthwise movement the lengthwise grinding: operation is completed and all excess metal or stock is; removed, eliminating all retouching or other work and giving a completely finish-grinding job.

Likewise, it will be well understood that all ends, tips or points-are automatically maintained in. grinding relation to the wheel as the; carriage and blade traverse the grinding wheel, producing; a point finish-ground; completely around the; endand requiring no touching up or iur-ther operation. Th s e entire, b a e, n thw se uttin o nd; e d or point r bo h. m ete y-fi i h a ound n n i ple contin ous. n thwise movement of the carriage.

Furthermore, a verywide range ofblades; l d o greatly y n s a s. utlines, o1 -rvatures, styles or types maybe completely ground by this invention, by av single lengthwise move ment of the; carriageand require no; further grinding or touching up.

It seems hardly necessary to state that blade grinding machines are usually made in pairs right and left. One grinds, one side of a blade and the other grinds the opposite side. One is complementaryto the other, So, only one side is und. y l fi invention d SQIib Q- FQ r d,- ne the oth side a complementar maoh-in is used. as usual- T d s ri t n erein; iven anp i s equa to c omp m ta ohine- It is ou ht a e o nst ruotion opera and; use of the invention will be olearfrom the preceding detailed description.

Man-y changes may be made in the oonstru c. tion, arrangement and disposition ofthe various parts of the invention within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the field of the invention and it is meant; to include all such within this application wherein only one preferred form has been illustrated, purely by way of demonstration and with no thought, or intention to, in, any degree limit the claim thereby.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A knife blade grinding machine comprising an annular grinding wheel, a supporting bracket swingable about an axis approximately tangent to said grinding wheel, a carriage reciprocable in said bracket across the grinding path of said 2 wheel and perpendicularly to said axis, a plate pivotally mounted at one end in said carriage to swing about said end perpendicularly toward and from said wheel, a bar carried by said plate and mounted to rock about its longitudinal axis perpendicularly to the axis of said swinging plate, means actuating said plate and said bar to operative positions and a blade holder carried by said bar.

2. A knife blade grinding machine comprising an annular grinding wheel, a supporting bracket swingable about an axis approximately tangent to said grinding wheel, a carriage reciprocable in said bracket across the grinding path of said wheel and perpendicularly to said axis, a plate pivotally mounted at one end in said carriage to swing about said end perpendicularly toward and from said wheel, a cam bar carried by said bracket and means carried by said swinging plate and engaging said cam bar during travel of the 3. A knife blade grinding machine comprising:

1 nnular r ndin hoeh unno inabra h w aea le about, n; xis. ap oxima e y gen i r r nd n he l). a. Q K fifli d by aid b acket, a ca r a n o bl n s w a d h v ng mon s rand-tonon. ng emen h h eoe de he e f and: r v nga eeat. w th; h are her of a l pivotally m un d at one and n. S id; carr a to w n o t id: n p r e di u rr o an from a dwh o a am ba arr d-by a d aok t and ea s den ed: raid p ate nd n a a b r-and maintainin a en therewith b era tx dur n ra e of t e o esai arriage. compelling movement of said plate in accordance th a p edet rm e at e n.

4,. A knife blade grinding; machine comprising n; annu arr ndin wh e a supporti b e n ab o a u an ax s; ap r ximate y tan ent to aid gr n ng heot. a ca r a e eciplocab e in d,- b aoket a ros he rind n pa h ofsaid whe l and pe pendic la ly t s i i a plate pivotallymounted at one end; in said carriage to swing about said endperpendicularly toward and from said wheel, a barpivoted on said plate to k, a o an. is, e pe di larly to th ax s f swingof aid br ket and. plate, cam ba ried by the aforesaid bracket, and means carried, respectiveln by said plate and bar and engaging saidbars during travel of the aforesaid carriage, compelling movements of said plate and saidbar accordance with a predetermined pattern.

5. A; Ignite. blade grinding machine comprising an annular grinding wheel, a supporting bracket swingable about an axis approximately tangent tosaid; grinding wheel, a carriage reciprocable in said bracket across the grinding path of said wheel and perpendicularly to, said axis, a plate pivotally monnted at one end, in said carriage to swing about said end perpendicularly toward and from said wheel, a bar pivoted on said plate to rock about, an axis perpendicular to the axes of swing of said braeket and plate, cam bars carried by the a qljesaid bracket, and means carried, respectively, by said plate and bar and si- -multaneously engaging said cam bars during travel of the aforesaid carriage, simultaneously swinging the plate toward the wheel and rocking the bar, as the carriage approaches the end of its travel, in accordance with the predetermined curvature pattern of a selected knife blade end.

6. A knife blade grinding machine comprising an annular grinding wheel, a supporting bracket swingable about an axis approximately tangent to said grinding wheel, a carriage-way carried by said bracket, a carriage reciprocable on said way and suspended from the upper edge thereof and against the face thereof by a mortise-and-tenon connection along the upper edge thereof, the carriage being maintained by gravity in free sliding contact with the carriage-way face, a plate pivotally mounted at one end in said carriage to swing about said end perpendicularly toward and from said wheel, a bar pivoted on said plate to rock about an axis perpendicular to the axes of swing of said bracket and plate and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said plate, cam bars carried by the aforesaid bracket, and means carried, respectively, by said plate and bar and engaging said cam bars during travel of the aforesaid carriage, compelling movements of said plate and said bar in accordance with a predetermined pattern, said means being constantly urged to operative engagement by gravity of the carriage.

7. A knife blade grinding machine comprising a grinding wheel, a support adjacent said wheel, a vertically disposed carriage-way carried by said support, a vertically disposed carriage reciprocable across the grinding path of said wheel, parallel to and in free sliding contact with the face of said carriageway, longitudinally freesliding connections between said carriage and the upper edge of said way, said connections being ofi-set from the carriage, compelling gravitation of said carriage against said way, a plate pivotally mounted at one end in said support to swing about said end perpendicularly toward and from said wheel, a bar pivoted on said plate to rock about an axis perpendicular to the axis of swing of said plate, cam bars carried by the aforesaid support, and means carried, respectively, by said plate and bar and engaging said cam bars during travel of the aforesaid carriage, compelling movements of said plate and said bar in accordance with a predetermined pattern, gravity action of the aforesaid carriage maintaining operative contact between the aforesaid cam bars and the respective engaging means.

8. A knife blade grinding machine comprising a grinding wheel, a supporting bracket swingable about an axis approximately tangential to said grinding wheel, a carriage-way carried by said bracket, a carriage reciprocable on said way and having amortise-and-tenon engagement with the upper edge thereof and gravity engagement with the face thereof, a bar pivotally mounted on said carriage to swing about an axis perpendicular to the axis of swing of the aforesaid bracket, a cam bar carried by said bracket and means carried by said bar and maintaining engagement with said cam bar by gravity during travel of the aforesaid carriage, compelling movement of said bar in accordance with a predetermined pattern.

9. A knife blade grinding machine comprising a grindin wheel, a supporting bracket swingable about an axis approximately tangential to said grinding wheel, a carriage-way carried by said bracket, a carriage reciprocable on said way and having a mortise-and-tenon engagement with the upper edge thereof and gravity engagement with the face thereof, a bar movably mounted on said carriage and travelling with said carriage, and devices automatically moving said bar in accordance with a predetermined pattern as said carriage travels.

10; A knife blade grinding machine comprising an annular grinding wheel, a supporting bracket adjacent said wheel swingable about a stationary axis approximately tangent to said grinding wheel, a vertically disposed carriage-way carried by said bracket, a vertically disposed carriage reciprocable across the grinding face of said wheel, parallel to and in free-sliding contact with the face of said carriage-way, longitudinally freesliding connections between said carriage and the upper edge of said Way, said connections being offset from the carriage, compelling gravitation of said carriage against said way, a plate pivotally mounted at one end in said bracket to swing about said end perpendicularly toward and from said wheel, a cam bar carried by the aforesaid support, and means carried by said plate and engaging said cam bar during travel of the aforesaid carriage, compelling movements of said plate in accordance with a predetermined pattern, gravity action of the aforesaid carriage maintaining operative contact between the aforesaid cam bar and engaging means.

11. A knife blade grinding machine comprising an annular grinding wheel, a supporting bracket adjacent said wheel swingable about a stationary pivotal axis approximately tangent to said grinding wheel, a vertically disposed carriage-way carried by said bracket, a vertically disposed carriage reciprocable across the grinding face of said wheel, parallel to and in free-sliding contact with the face of said carriage-way, longitudinally freesliding connections between said carriage and the upper edge of said way, said connections being offset from the carriage, compelling gravitation of said carriage against said way, a bar pivotally mounted in said carriage to rock about its longitudinal axis, a cam bar carried by the aforesaid bracket, and means carried by said bar and engaging said cam bar during travel of the aforesaid carriage, compelling movements of said bar in accordance with a predetermined pattern,

gravity actuation of the aforesaid carriage maintaining operative contact between the aforesaid cam bar and engaging means.

HERBERT T. NICHOLAS. 

